Lifesaving device



Aug. 6, 1940. c GRAY A 2,210,809

LIFESAVING DEVICE Filed Jan. 9, 1939 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS yaw/W4 Patented Aug. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE LIFESZAVING DEVICE LeonardC. Gray,0mak, Wash. Application January 9, 1939, Serial No. 250,029

. 3 Claims. (01. 9-17) My invention relates to lifesaving devices and more particularly to that type known as swimmers collars.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a lifesaving device adapted to be connected about the neck of a user thereby insuring the holding of the users nose andmouth above thesurface of the water to preclude drowning.

Another object of my invention is to provide a a device of the character described which is'simple,

in construction, durable in use, efiicient in operation and economical in manufacture.

An important object of my invention is to pro-' vide a device of the character described fashioned with a plurality of inflatable compartments whereby to maintain the swimmers head above the surface of the water upon puncturing of one compartment.

Other objects andadvantages will be apparent from the following description, appended claims and annexed drawing. I

Referring to the drawing wherein like referenc characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my invention, partly in section.

Figure 2 is a sectional view'taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and illustrating the invention as applied about the neck of a user.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure l and illustrating in dotted lines the device in collapsed or deflated condition.

Figure 4. is an end elevation of my invention illustrating the ends thereof in separated condition.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view on an en-' larged scale taken on the line Eii of Figure 5.

My novel form of swimmers collar comprises a tube 4 of a circular configuration when inflated and formed with end walls 5 adapted forabutting engagement with each other and with connected front and rear walls 6 and 1 respectively. The rear wall I defines a centrally disposed neck opening 8. The rear wall 1 of the tube is fashioned of semi-yieldable material while the, re-

relationat the front of said tube.

trated'in Figures 1 and 2 of. the drawing. The inner Wall 9 serves to divide the tube into outer and inner air'chambers II and I2 respectively.

Mounted in the outer wall It], at the front end of said tube, is a pair of air pipes l3 and M 'respectively, the pipe l4 extending through the outer'chamber H and communicating with the inner chamber l2 and the. pipe 13 having communication with the outer chamber H as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 5 of the drawing. Mounted on the pipe |4,yw1'thin the outer chamber H, is a spacing sleeve l5 serving to maintain the walls 1 and 9 in spaced The wall 9, subjacent the pipe |4,'is provided with a flapper valve I6 whereby air may be introduced into the inner chamber l2 from the outer chamber II and precluded by said valve from returning from said inner chamber into said outer chamber. The outer ends of the pipes l3 and I4 have secured thereon caps l3a and'Ma respectively and each of said caps has mounted therein a valve member Mb having a stem I40 extending through the cap and operable to permit the exhaust or introduction. of air into the respective pipe, and to the chamber connected thereto. The valve member Mb is normally maintained in seated engagement with the inner face of the cap to close an air opening Md formed in said cap and through which the valve stem I40 projects.

Air is'introduced into the inner and outer chambers through the pipe !3 and flapper valve I6 and is exhausted through the flapper valve and pipe l4 upon operation of the valve member Mb. However, air may be introduced directly'into the inner chamber l2 through the pipe M. The inner face of the rear wall 6, adjacent the end walls 5, is provided with a pair of overlaping tabs l'!, one connected to each other by coacting fastener elements I8 whereby to secure said ends together. The upper frontal face of the tube, adjacent the neck opening 8 is recessed to provide a seat 20 for accommodating the chin of the user.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the tube is inflated and in attached condition about the neckof a user, the inner and outer chambers will serve to maintain the head of the user above the levelof the water While swimming and also preclude the user from drowning. Furthermore, the outer chamber H serves as a guard for the inner chamber l2 and should the tube contact any object and the outer chamber be punctured thereby, the inner chamher will remain inflated and thus maintain the head of the user above the water.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefor as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the inven tion is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of the principles of operation, which are capable of extended application in advance forms, and that the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described, comprising,a tube fashioned with end, rear, front and inner walls, and means connecting said end walls together in abutting relation whereby said rear wall defines a neck opening, said inner wall coacting with said front and rear wall to define outer and inner air chambers within saidtube, said outer chamber being of a crescent configuration in cross section and disposed outwardly of and about said inner chamber to protect the inner wall against puncture, said outer wall fashioned on the front face thereof with a recess defining a seat for accommodating the chin of a user whereby to maintain said tube in adjusted position about the neck of said user.

2. A device of the character described, comprising, a tube fashioned with end, rear, front andinner walls, means connecting said end walls together in abutting relation whereby said rear wall defines a neck opening, said inner wall coacting with said front and rear wall to define outer and inner air chambers within said tube, said outer chamber being of a crescent configuration in cross section and disposed outwardly of and about said inner chamber to protect the inner wall against puncture, said outer wall fashioned on the front face thereof with a recess defining a seat for accommodating the chin of a user whereby to maintain said tube in adjusted position about the neck of said user, and means connected to said tube and communicating with each of'said chambers whereby air may be introduced therein for inflating said tube.

3. A device of the character described, comprising, a tube fashioned with end, rear, front and inner walls, means connecting said end walls together in abutting relation whereby said rear wall defines a neck opening, said inner wall coacting with said front and rear wall to define outer and inner air chambers within said tube, said outer chamber being of a crescent configuration in cross section and disposed outwardly of and about said inner chamber to protect the inner wall against puncture, said outer wall fashioned on thefront face thereof with a recess defining a seat for accommodating the chin of a user whereby to maintain said tube in adjusted position about the neck of said user, means connected to said tube and communicating with each of said chambers whereby air may be introduced therein for inflating said tube, and a flapper valve'in said inner wall for admitting air into said inner chamber from said outer chamber and precluding discharge of air from said inner chamber into said outer chamber.

LEONARD C. GRAY. 

